Window regulator for automobiles and the like



Sept. 7, 1948.

Filed NOV. 18, 1944 s. GREENMUN 2,448,796

WINDOW REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LEO 3.6REENMUN.

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Sept. 7, 1948. L. s. GREENMUN WINDOW REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 18, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N mu mm N mE E R G s O E L P 1948- L. s. GREENMUN 2,448,796

WINDOW REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 18, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

I51 LEO S. GREENMUN S p 1948. L. s. GREENMUN 2,448,796

WINDOW REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 18, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F l I LEo g gggfihw j amww Sept. 7, 1948. s. GREENMUN 2,448,796

WINDOW REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 18, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v LEO S. GREENMUN.

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ZNVHVTOR- Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE 7 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to window regulators for automobiles and the like.

In my copending application, Serial No.551,406. filed August 26, 1944, I have described a window and shutter arrangement for automobiles, in which the window and shutter are independently operated by means of regulators accessible from the interior of the car.

The present invention is concerned primarily with a window and shutter arrangement of the character described in the aforesaid application, but in connection with which means are provided for simultaneously or synchronously operating or regulating the window and shutter.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for operating a window and shutter arrangement of the aforesaid character in a predetermined timed relation, in which a predetermined time interval is permitted to elapse between the beginning of the movement of the window and the beginning of the movement of the shutter.

Another object of the invenion is to provide means for operating a window and shutter in a synchronized relation, which means is of simple but rugged construction, which is inexpensive to make and assemble, and which is characterized by a relatively small number of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of the foregoing character, which may be quickly and easily installed in an .automobile,.

without material changes in construction of the automobile.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a, part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an automobile door, with portions broken away to more clearly show the window and shutter operating mechanism, and with the window and shutter in fully closed position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to Fig. 1, but showing the shutter in fully opened position;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the shutter mounting means;

. line H-ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 4, with the shutter of Fig. 10 in fully open position;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another modification of the invention;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line l4--I4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 13, but with the shutter in fully open position;

Fig. 1'? is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing still another modification of the invention;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line lB-l8 of Fig. 17, and

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17, but showing the shutter in fully open position.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, there is illustrated a car door I of more or less conventional form and having a window opening '2, the front edge 3 of such opening sloping downwardly and forwardly, in accordance with conventional construction.

The door I is provided with a window 4 which, in outline, conforms generally with the shape of the window opening, and has a front edge 5 which is substantially parallel with the edge 3 of the window opening, it being noted that the portion of the door frame, which has the window opening, is recessed for the reception of the edge 5 of the window when the window is in fully closed position.

In order to provide a desired type of no-draft ventilation for the automobile, a glass shutter 'I is provided, which extends substantially parallel with the edge 3 of the window opening 2, and is rigidly mounted in a metallic frame 8 of channelshaped cross-section. The upper portion of the frame has an embossment 9 struck therefrom to provide a pivot point for entry into a conical seat I 0 in the door frame.

The lower portion of the frame 8 is mounted in a slot II of the head l2 of a shaft or pin 13,

the frame being permanently secured to said shaft by welding the frame to the head along the edges of the slot. The shaft l3 extends downwardly into the door frame, and for the purpose of providing a weather-proof seal between the shaft and the point at which it enters the door frame, an inverted cup-shaped washer I4 is disposed about the head 12 of the shaft immediately below the frame 8, and is welded to the frame or shaft head. The metal of the door frame is struck up about the shaft head to form a flange of slightly smaller diameter than the flange [6 of the washer l4, and the flange l6 extends over the flange l5 to form a skirt for the latter, thereby providing a water-tight joint. The mounting of the frame 8 on the door is such that when the shutter is in the open position and extends at about 90 degrees to the door, the shutter may be moved sufficiently along the axis of the shaft 12 to permit the shutter to be removed from the door, as will be presently explained.

The window 4 has its bottom edge enclosed in a. channel strip which is mounted, djacent its forward end, on the horizontal flange l8 of a plate or bracket IS, a portion of which is in the form of a segment of a gear. The bracket or plate I9 is mounted on a shaft or pin 2|, which, in turn, is mounted for rotation in a plate or bracket 22, which is rigidl mounted on the door frame, in substantially parallel relation with the outer and inner surfaces of the door, represented by reference numerals 23 and 24 respectively.

The plate or bracket 22 is in the form of a stamping having a circular embossment 25 forming a housing and bearing for a crankshaft, to the inner end of which is secured the usual crank handle for raising and lowering the window. The crank shaft has mounted thereon a pinion which is in mesh with the teeth of the gear portion 20 of the plate IS.

The plate or bracket 22 is extended to form a support for a U-shaped member 29 having ears 38 and 31 having openings 32 and 33 respectively in axial alignment with the axis of the shaft l3. Mounted in the opening 32 is a cup 34 having a spring-pressed plunger 35 therein, and mounted in the opening 33 is a cam member 36, the latter being secured against displacement from the ear 3| by means of a nut 31.

The cam member 36 is provided with an extension 38 having mounted therein a stub shaft or pin 39, which carries a cam roller 48.

The shaft I3 is provided with a portion 4| which extends through the cam member 36 and into the cup 34, and bears against the plunger 35, the spring being compressed sufficiently to ri'isiliently maintain the embossment 9 in its seat The portion 4| of the shaft 13 has a flat face 42 which is in engagement with a fiat face 44 of the member 36, so that rotation of the cam member 36 is directly communicated to the shaft l3 to rotate the latter. An oil groove 43 is provided in the flat face 44 of the member 36 for the purpose of forcing an oil or grease to the wall of the opening 33, for lubricating the latter, to facilitate rotation of the cam member.

The plate or bracket I9 has rigidly secured thereto, as by spot welding, a cam plate 45 having an offset flange 46 provided with a cam slot consisting of two connected arcuate portions 41 and 48. When the shutter is in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, the cam roller i disposed in the upper end of the portion 41 of the cam slot.

With the various parts, as thus described, and assuming that the window and shutter are in the fully closed position shown in Fig. 1, and that the occupant of the car wishes to partially open the window, but not the shutter, the operator will turn the crank handle, thereby rotating the plate or bracket Hi to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

During this movement, the window will be partially opened, but since the portion 41 of the cam slot in the plate is concentric with the axis of rotation of the bracket iii, no movement of the shutter will ensue, the cam roller 40 remaining stationary.

Upon continued movement of the crank handle, the bracket l9 continues to rotate, and the portion 48 of the cam slot in the plate 45 begins to act on the cam roller 40, and through the intermediary of the cam member 36, causes the shaft l3 to be rotated, thereby causing the shutter I to be opened, the extent of this movement being limited by engagement of the cam roller 40 with the end of the portion 48 of the cam slot, as seen in Fig. 4, the shutter, at this point, extending at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the door. The window, in the course of this movement of the shutter, has been fully opened, so that maximum ventilation of the automobile is effected.

It is to be understood, of course, that the window and shutter may be opened to any position intermediate the fully closed and fully open positions, if desired.

Upon reversing the movement of the crank handle, the reverse of the foregoing movements will be effected, that is to say, the shutter will first be closed, and the window nearly closed, after which the window will be fully closed.

When it is desired to remove the shutter for replacement or repair purposes, it is only necessary to open the shutter to substantially its fully open position, to then depress the shutter against the spring pressed plunger 35 sufficiently to release the embos'sment 9 from the recess l0, and then to pull the shutter outwardly and upwardly, so as to draw the shaft thereof out of the member 36 and cup 34. Replacement of the shutter is effected by a reversal of these movements.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the plate or bracket H! has an arcuate slot 58 therein, which is concentric with the axis of rotation of the bracket.

The shaft l3, in this case, has secured thereto, adjacent its upper end, a lever 5|, to which is pivotally secured one end of a link 52, the other end of this link being provided with a pin or rivet 53 which is adapted to ride in the slot 50.

When the window and shutter are in the fully closed position, as shown in Fig. 10, the pin 53 is disposed at the lower end of the slot 50. Upon rotation of the crank handle, the bracket I9 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10 and the window will be partially opened, but no movement of the shutter will occur during movement of the pin 53 from its lowermost position in the slot 50 to the upper end of the slot.

Thereafter, continued rotation of the crank handle, causes the bracket l9 to engage the pin 53 and the shaft I3 to be rotated, through the intermediary of the link 52 and lever 5|.

Upon reversal of the crank handle operation, the sequence of the foregoing movements will be reversed, that is to say, the window will be partially closed, without movement of the shutter, after which the shutter will be closed, and the closing of the window completed.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive, the link 52' is pivotally connected, as by a pin 53', to the plate IS, but has a slot 50 at one end, into which a pin 53" on a lever 5| extends. the lever 5i being rigidly secured to the shaft i3.

When the window and shutter are in the fully closed position, as shown in Fig. 13, the pin 53" is disposed at the lower end of the slot Ill.

Upon rotation of the crank handle, the bracket I9 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. as viewed in Fig. 13, and the window will be partially opened, but no movement of the shutter will occur during movement of the pin 53" from its lowermost position in the slot 50' to the upper end of the slot.

Thereafter, continued rotation of the crank handle causes the link 52' to engage the pin 5!", and the shaft I3 to be rotated through the intermediary of such pin and the lever 5|.

Upon reversal of the crank handle operation, the sequence of the foregoing movements will be reversed, that is to say, the window will be partially closed without movement of the shutter, after which the shutter will be closed, and the closing of the window completed.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1'7, 18 and 19, the plate or bracket i9 is provided with ears 60 and GI struck therefrom, and arranged in concentric relation with the axis of rotation of the plate.

The shaft l3, in this case, is provided with teeth forming a gear or pinion 62, and maintained in engagement with this pinion is a rack 63 having an inturned end 64, which extends into the space between the ears 60 and BI. The rack is mounted for reciprocal sliding movement in a housing 65 which is mounted on an extension of the plate 22.

When the window and shutter are in fully closed position, the inturned end 54 of the rack 63 is in engagement with the ear 60.

Upon rotation of the crank handle, the bracket 89 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 17, and the window will be partially opened, but no movement of the shutter will occur until the ear BI is brought into contact with the end 64 of the rack.

Thereafter, continued rotation of the crank handle causes the ear 6| to exert a pull on the rack 63, and causing the shaft l3 to be rotated.

Upon reversal of the crank handle operation, the sequence of the foregoing movements will be reversed, that is to say, the window will be partially closed, without movement of the shutter, after which the shutter will be closed by engagement of the car 60 with the end 64 of the rack, and the closing of the window completed.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts ma be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a window assembly for vehicles, the combination of a window opening, a deflector window panel s'wingabie about a substantially vertical axis, a pivotally mounted main window panel completely closing such opening and rotatable in a substantially vertical plane, which plane is parallel to and removed from the plane of the deflector panel in its fully closed position, a single regulator for adjusting both panels, and means responsive solely to rotation of the regulator for rotating both panels simultaneously.

2. In a window assembly for vehicles, the combination of a window opening, a deflector window panel swingable about a substantially vertical axis, a pivotally mounted main window panel completely closing such opening and rotatable in a substantially vertical plane, which plane is parallel to and removed from the plane of the deflector panel in its fully closed position, a single regulator for adjusting both panels, and means responsive solely to rotation of the regulator for rotating the main panel and simultaneously rotating the deflector panel to any desired position.

3.. In a window assembly for vehicles, the combination of a window opening, a deflector window panel swingabie about a substantially vertical axis, a pivotally mounted main window panel completely closing such opening and rotatable in a substantially vertical plane, which plane is parallel to and removed from the plane of the deflector window panel in its fully closed position, a single regulator for adjusting both panels, and mechanical means responsive solely to rotation of the regulator for rotating the main window panel and imparting delayed synchronous rotation to the deflector window panel.

4. In' a window assembly for vehicles, the combination of a window opening, a deflector window panel rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a pivotally mounted main window panel completely closing" such opening and rotatable in a substantially vertical plane, which plane is parallel to and removed from the plane of the deflector panel in its fully closed position, a single regulator for adjusting both panels, and mechanical means responsive solely to rotation of the regulator for rotating the main panel through a predetermined arc and then rotating both panels simultaneously.

5. A combination, as deflned in claim 4, in which said means comprise a pivotally mounted gear sector, said gear sector having a portion thereof secured to said main window panel whereby rotation of said gear sector causes rotation of said main window panel in a substantially vertical plane, a shaft secured to said deflector window panel whereby rotation of said shaft about its longitudinal axis causes rotation of said deflector window panel in a substantially horizontal plane, a lost motion link, having one of its ends pivotally secured to said gear sector and having the other end thereof pivotally secured to said shaft eccentrically thereof, whereby said shaft is caused to rotate in delayed response to rotation of said gear sector, and means for rotating said gear sector.

6. A combination, as defined in claim 4, in which said means comprise a pivotally mounted gear sector, said gear sector having a portion thereof secured to said main window panel whereby rotation of said gear sector causes rotation of said main window panel in a substantially vertical plane, a shaft secured to said deflector window panel whereby rotation of said shaft about its longitudinal axis causes rotation of said deflector window panel in a substantially horizontal plane, a cam plate secured to said gear sector, a cam follower secured to said shaft and in operative engagement with said cam plate whereby said shaft is caused to rotate in delayed response to the rotation of said cam plate, and means for rotating said gear sector.

'7. A combination, as defined in claim 4, in which said means comprise'a pivotally mounted gear sector, said gear sector having a portion thereof secured to said main window panel whereby rotation of said gear sector causes rotation of said main window panel in a substantially vertical plane, a shaft secured to said deflector window'panel whereby rotation of said shaft about its longitudinal axis causes rotation of said deflector window panel in a substantially horizontal plane, radially disposed gear teeth provided on said shaft, a gear rack mounted in operative relationship to said gear teeth whereby linear movement of said rack causes rotation of said shaft, spaced projections provided on said gear sector, said rack having a portion thereof disposed in the path of travel of said projections whereby abutment of said projections with said gear rack causes linear movement of said rack, and means for rotating said gear sector.

LEO S. GREENMUN.

8 REFERENCES crran The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,914,066 Beck et al June 13, 1933 2,034,202 Paton Mar, 17, 1936 10 2,073,874 Knapp Mar. 16, 1937 2,073,878 Palmer Mar. 16, 1937 2,086,707 Falk July 13, 1937 2,122,963 Susor July 5, 1938 2,138,838 Carr Dec. 6, 1938 15 2,145,668 Taylor Jan. 31, 1939 2,152,055 Kegler Mar. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 422,389 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1935 "519,163

Great Britain Mar. 19, 1940 

